discover your smart energy future

Whether we're harnessing the power of the sun or
preparing our grid for the future,
you can depend on safe, reliable energy today and tomorrow.

Vectren understands that you depend upon the electric service we provide, and we must provide it in a safe, reliable manner. As our older electric assets continue to age, and new and even more efficient technologies emerge, we have a plan for ensuring a reliable, reasonably priced and well-balanced energy mix for southwestern Indiana.

The unfolding of this plan illustrates how an energy company can transform the way it produces and delivers power, and provide cleaner energy for our region, yet still maintain the dependable service our customers have come to expect. Learn how you'll benefit from a smart energy future below, or visit our "Facts" page for answers to common questions.

A well-balanced mix for cleaner air and continued reliability

A well-balanced mix for cleaner air and continued reliability

As Vectren begins the 2019 Integrated Resource Plan, we will work to identify a mix of resources to meet a growing demand of cleaner, reasonably priced energy for the region while maintaining the reliability our 145,000 customers deserve and have come to expect.

Building one of the largest solar farms in the Midwest

Upon receiving regulatory approval in March 2019, construction is underway on one of the largest single-sited solar arrays in Indiana to further diversify our energy mix. This $70-75 million addition, to be constructed in Vectren's electric service area in southwestern Indiana, will add 50 MW of solar power and will consist of more than 150,000 solar panels over nearly 300 acres. At its peak, this project will spur 150 to 250 construction-related jobs, the strong majority of which will be union labor.

The solar array, which should be operational by 2020, will be in addition to the two 2-MW universal solar projects that are currently online; one near North High School in northern Vanderburgh County and the second near Oakhill Cemetery off of Morgan Ave., which is being done through a partnership with the City of Evansville.

Retrofitting some and retiring other existing coal units

In addition to the solar projects, in April 2019, Vectren received approval to retrofit its largest, most-efficient coal-fired generation unit, F.B. Culley Unit 3 at 270 MW in Warrick County, Indiana, to ensure it remains in compliance with EPA rules related to coal ash and waste water handling.

A hardened electric grid that's safe and reliable

A hardened electric grid that's safe and reliable

The grid modernization plan will have significant benefits for the economy according to a study conducted by Indiana University, including an economic impact of nearly $650 million over the 7-year period, the generation of $20 million in state and local government tax revenue effects through 2023 and the creation of approximately 1,000 jobs at the peak of the plan. Here are a few of the improvements we are making across our electric service area:

Rebuilding high-voltage transmission line systems

Half of the transmission lines across our territory have been in service for more than 35 years, and those lines are subject to natural decay, animal damage and normal "wear and tear." Our $55M plan over the 7-year period includes efforts to rebuild transmission lines to meet Vectren's current standard of construction, which will result in improved power quality and reliability, reduced risk of emergency repair or replacement and better reliability.

Replacing substation transformers

Many of the 200 substation transformers in Vectren's system are well beyond their expected service life of 35 years. The loss of a substation transformer can result in the interruption of power to several thousand customers and restoration times can last for several hours. Proactive replacement of these aging transformers will help eliminate unplanned outages. This program, which costs nearly $69M over the 7-year period, will replace an average of 7 to 10 substation transformers per year.

Underground cable and network replacements

Vectren will replace underground bare cable with coated primary conductor and upgrade a number of underground networks to maintain reliability and safety. This effort will cost about $55M over the 7-year period.

Rebuilding electric circuits

This $77M, 7-year program includes the replacement of obsolete and aged conductors with higher capacity and stronger aluminum cables, aging poles with poles based on current, more robust construction standards and other hardware as needed. Looping ties the circuits together with modern switches and improved grid resilience by providing alternate feeds for reenergizing customers during extended outages. This will ensure increased reliability and system integrity, reduced risk of poles breaking and falling in storms, reduced risk of wires breaking and falling during storms and faster restoration times.

Installing distribution automation

Distribution Automation will enable remote operation of switches so they can be opened and closed remotely from Vectren's control room. Adding this technology will cost about $14M over the 7-year period, and will lead to faster outage restoration by quickly isolating outages to specific problems areas, improved preventative maintenance scheduling, enhanced safety and better data for system planning.

Energy usage monitoring

We'll be adding new online tools that will allow you to monitor your Vectren electric service down to the latest hour so you can schedule your thermostat more accurately and see the impact of new appliances or electronics. These tools will be available to any Vectren electric customer with a free Vectren.com online account.

New texting options and alerts

We're bringing you new ways to communicate with us and stay informed about your service. These include texting/SMS power outage alerts containing the estimated time of restoration, high bill/energy usage alerts and more.

Faster service activation

Our plan allows for the capability to activate your Vectren service remotely, so activating or deactivating your service is quick and easy.

Bringing you smart metering technology.

Part of Vectren's grid modernization plan includes modern technology, which improves system reliability and resiliency, and also virtually eliminates estimated bills, enables quicker service, faster electric outage identification and more tools for you to manage your energy use. Smart meters are the key to supporting your smart energy future.

Bringing you universal solar.

Upon receiving regulatory approval in March 2019, construction is underway on one of the largest single-sited solar arrays in Indiana to further diversify our energy mix. This $70-75 million addition, to be constructed in Vectren's electric service area in southwestern Indiana, will add 50 MW of solar power and will consist of more than 150,000 solar panels over nearly 300 acres. At its peak, this project will spur 150 to 250 construction-related jobs, the strong majority of which will be union labor.

This solar array is in addition to the two 2-MW universal solar projects that are currently in operation; one near North High School in northern Vanderburgh County and the second near Oakhill Cemetery off of Morgan Ave., which is through a partnership with the City of Evansville.